On the Importance of Acting

In an instant, everyone's attention shifted to Sen Chisato.

"Kid, do you know what you're saying?" Shimura Danzō said coldly.

Without waiting for an order, one of the guards beside him drew his sword and charged at Sen Chisato.

That was the way Root operated.

They followed Shimura Danzō and were like cold-blooded killing machines. From an eighty-year-old to a newborn, once they received an order, they would kill anyone—even the Third Hokage.

After all, Sen Chisato was nothing more than an insignificant test subject in Orochimaru's hands.

Shimura Danzō glanced sidelong at Sen Chisato, watching him with indifference, though most of his attention remained on Orochimaru.

He didn't know Sen Chisato's name, but he knew who he was.

That kid had survived in Orochimaru's hands for nearly five years.

So Orochimaru must have thought highly of him. Danzō had to guard against Orochimaru suddenly attacking him—even if the odds were slim.

When two jackals worked together, each still had to keep an eye on the other.

But to his surprise, Orochimaru stood motionless, arms crossed over his chest, looking as though he were enjoying the show. He had no intention of stepping in.

Clang!

The weapons clashed, and the Root ninja immediately leaped backward with his blade in hand.

Shimura Danzō's pupils contracted as he spotted the weapon in Sen Chisato's hand.

It was a wooden spike that had grown out of Sen Chisato's palm. It had not only blocked the Root ninja's attack but had nearly impaled him.

There was no doubt about it. This was Wood Release!

The Root ninja was about to attack again, but Shimura Danzō hurriedly stopped him. "Stop!"

The Root ninja halted at once, but Sen Chisato charged toward them instead.

The wooden spike aimed at the Root ninja's head and rapidly lengthened, like a spear.

Too fast!

Shimura Danzō hadn't expected Sen Chisato to keep attacking even after he'd given the order.

The Root ninja reacted quickly and dodged, but the spike still pierced his shoulder.

Next, he should use the Cutting Technique, Shimura Danzō thought.

He had coveted Wood Release for a long time and knew a great deal about the various techniques based on it. He even had a Wood Release user in his ranks.

He knew that dozens of wooden spikes would soon pierce his subordinate from the inside out, but he didn't care.

He was more interested in seeing how far Sen Chisato could go.

But Orochimaru spoke up, his voice rich and resonant. "That's enough, Senri."

Sen Chisato could have killed the Root ninja with a single thought, but the instant Orochimaru spoke, he stopped without hesitation.

As obedient as they came!

Sen Chisato's little face turned cold. He snapped off the wooden spike, then used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Orochimaru. He glared fiercely at Shimura Danzō and the others, like a little lion trying to protect its mother.

"Lord Orochimaru, how dare they disrespect you? Why won't you let me kill them?"

"Teaching them a lesson is enough. There's no need to kill them." Orochimaru rested a hand on Sen Chisato's head and gently chided him. "And I've told you not to use Wood Release whenever you please. Your body won't be able to take it."

"I can't let this body be destroyed before I've finished making use of it."

"Yes!"

Sen Chisato immediately lowered his head in apology, his voice full of remorse. "I'm sorry, Lord Orochimaru. I just wanted so badly to protect you."

His acting was simply superb, worthy of an Oscar-winning performance.

Shimura Danzō's earlier displeasure vanished completely. He didn't even spare a glance for his injured subordinate. Instead, he stepped forward and glared at Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru, hand the kid over to me!"

"I've already given you one." Orochimaru ran his tongue over his lips.

Sen Chisato knew Orochimaru well enough to realize that he was angry.

That's it. Keep pushing him, Lord Danzō, Sen Chisato thought to himself.

Shimura Danzō didn't disappoint him. "Orochimaru, don't forget that I've funded all your research. All your findings belong to me."

"Today, I'm taking this kid with me, no matter what!"

Orochimaru's slit pupils gleamed coldly. He was deeply displeased with Shimura Danzō.

Shimura Danzō was too greedy!

Before Orochimaru could do anything, Sen Chisato suddenly darted forward, as though he couldn't resist attacking again.

But after taking just two steps, his face turned pale. His body swayed, and he collapsed to his knees, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

At the same time, his body began to tremble, and his back writhed.

"Pfft!"

Wooden spikes burst through his back, even spreading across his shoulders.

Danzō's expression changed, and disappointment filled his heart.

He had seen this too many times.

Hashirama Cells were far too invasive. Every test subject who couldn't withstand their invasion looked like this before dying.

Although the kid had survived the experiments, he wasn't even a defective specimen. He was nothing but a failed subject who had survived by sheer luck.

At this point, the kid probably wouldn't live much longer.

"If you like him so much, you can keep him. Next time I come, I expect to see more results." Shimura Danzō gave a cold snort and turned to leave.

"Wait." Orochimaru stopped him. "I'm running out of research funds, and we're nearly out of test subjects."

"Do you think you know what's happening right now? Hiruzen is paying close attention to the village's defenses. I can't take anyone from the village, so I can only capture people for you on the battlefield."

After a cold snort, Shimura Danzō left with his guards, tossing out a curt, "Wait."

Orochimaru watched them go, then looked at Sen Chisato, his voice tinged with displeasure.

"Senri, I always thought you were a good, obedient child."

"I'm sorry, Lord Orochimaru." Sen Chisato lay weakly on the ground, his voice full of remorse. "I can feel that my body won't hold out much longer."

"So please, Lord Orochimaru, conduct the next experiment on me as soon as possible. Let me do one last thing for you."

Orochimaru tossed Sen Chisato onto the examination table and examined him carefully. His expression darkened.

Sen Chisato's body was rapidly falling apart!

"Don't worry. I'll make good use of your body." He licked his lips and made up his mind.

He had to experiment on others as soon as possible and advance his research. Then he could conduct the next experiment on Sen Chisato.

That way, he might be able to save his most important test subject.

And so he did. Over the next several days, Orochimaru continued experimenting on others, using up more and more test subjects.

In a corner he never noticed, the weak-looking Sen Chisato watched the pile of corpses grow, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

Soon. I'll awaken Wood Release completely.

He licked his lips, looking like a miniature Orochimaru.

To help him awaken Wood Release... No, to save his life, Orochimaru worked day and night, researching until he neglected sleep and food.

He hadn't slept, and he hadn't eaten a single meal. Every day, he got by on Military Ration Pills.

How could that not move him?

Lord Orochimaru really was a good person!

After silently praising him, he began considering his next steps.

Wood Release was about to awaken, and he would soon have the means to protect himself. The next step was to persuade Lord Orochimaru to take him to the battlefield.

That way, Lord Orochimaru could rack up military accomplishments, earn more prestige, and move another step closer to the Hokage Position. He'd also get more test subjects, including the excellent specimens among the shinobi of other villages.

And, on top of that, Sen Chisato would receive some insignificant system rewards.

How could that not be a kind of... a way of repaying him?

Everything I've done has been for Lord Orochimaru!

Clearly, I'm a good person too, Sen Chisato thought.